Success Stories

The Rollercoaster By the time I arrived in Austin a few weeks before filming After All, the experience had already been an exercise in patience and perseverance. Five years had passed since development on the project officially began. As this was my second feature film, I had hoped things might move a bit faster. My first feature, Fair Haven, took about ten long years from start to finish. Two of After All’s development years were lost to a global pandemic, but regardless, the creative part of...

Happy Friday, Stage 32ers! I’m excited to announce that FilmScape Chicago is partnering with Stage 32 Certification to offer our acclaimed Stage 32 Production Accounting Master Certification Course to train and elevate local talent, ensuring Chicago’s productions continue to thrive with the highest-caliber crews. “The most common question we get—whether through social media or in person—is, ‘How do I get started in this industry?’”, says FilmScape Chicago’s President, Ned McGregor. “Taking t...

I had lunch with a producer on Friday who's worked on major sci-fi franchises for studios like WB and Netflix. Their big takeaway? Whoever has the audience has the leverage. Theaters used to have it. Netflix has it now. But YouTube? YouTube has more leverage than anyone. Here's the shift: it's not enough to own content anymore. You have to own the distribution or the channel. More and more production companies are financing, producing, and distributing their own content to reach audiences di...

Where I Started in March Last week, I was honored to receive a Double Recommend for my feature film script on Stage 32. So many amazing people have reached out to congratulate me, and I’ve received a fair number of questions asking for advice on how to get to this point. I LOVE THAT! Over the last six months, I’ve sought advice from many people, so I thought I’d pay it forward and share a brief timeline with key learning points on how I moved from a HARD double pass (twice) to a Double Recommen...

*Please note, this blog was co-written by Kevin and Kelly Tavolaro! Our first meeting involved a lot of blood. Kevin had co-written a horror feature that was being shot in the snowy woods of Utah. Kelly, an FX makeup artist, had been hired to bring the script to crimson-spraying, eye-gouging life. We first spoke during a night shoot, crowding around a propane heater in sub-zero temperatures. Between takes, the conversation turned to the classics…by which we mean Miami Connection and the film...

"Every film is a journey, and every journey is a film." - Francis Ford Coppola Hi, Stage 32 creatives, and welcome to all the newcomers! Like you, I was a new member not long ago, and since Coverfly closed and Stage 32 launched the Global Contest Hub, I've seen a lot of new faces. A post recently caught my attention, one that’s familiar to many of us: "Wait, why would I pay to pitch my idea?" For so long, we've been told to be wary of scams and people asking for money. It's a healthy refle...

Something extraordinary is happening at Stage 32 right now. Across our contests, pitch sessions, and consultation programs, writers, filmmakers, and creatives aren't just getting meetings: they're landing representation, signing shopping agreements, and seeing their projects move toward production. Let's dive into the momentum that's transforming careers across our platform and what lessons we can learn from these success stories. Contest Winners Turn Scripts Into Shopping Agreements Our annu...

As recently announced in Deadline, Erika Alexander's production company has opened their doors exclusively to our community and we're excited to announce we've partnered with Color Farm Media - who will develop and package the winning script of our Diversity Talent Accelerator screenwriting contest! The Rarity of Direct Producer Access Erika Alexander - beloved for her iconic acting roles as Maxine Shaw (“Living Single,” NAACP Image Awards as Outstanding Actress/Comedy Series), Detective Lato...

As the Film Commissioner of Zagreb, I am thrilled to announce our new partnership with Stage 32 Certification. This is a collaboration that highlights a significant moment for our city’s vibrant film production community. Zagreb has long been recognized for its creative spirit, stunning locations, and talented crews, and now, with Stage 32 Certification, we are taking a bold step forward in empowering our local talent to further compete and thrive on the global stage. Here's why Stage 32 Certi...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or simply dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got some inspiring content to fuel your passion and keep you moving forward. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in. First up, this incredible video essay from Frame Voyager: They Built an Entire World Inside a Studio. In 2004, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events committed almost entirely to practical sets at a time whe...